In the months after her sisters' weddings, nothing has gone well for Kitty Bennet. Since Lydia’s infamous elopement, her friends have abandoned her, and Longbourn is more prison than home. Not even Elizabeth's new status as Mrs. Darcy of Pemberley can repair the damage to Kitty’s reputation. More than anything else, she wishes to leave the plain ordinary Kitty behind and become Catherine Bennet, a proper young lady.

Her only ray of hope is an invitation to Pemberley for the holidays. Perhaps there she might escape the effects of her sister’s shame.

Getting to Pemberley is not as simple as it sounds. First she must navigate the perils of London society, the moods of Georgiana Darcy, and the chance encounter with the man who once broke her heart. Perhaps though, as Catherine, she might prove herself worthy of that gentleman’s regard.

But, in an instant all her hopes are dashed, and her dreams of becoming Catherine evaporate. Will Kitty Bennet's inner strength be enough to bring her heart's desire?

On an ordinary night perhaps not, but on Twelfth Night, it just might be enough.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Though Maria Grace has been writing fiction since she was ten years old, those early efforts happily reside in a file drawer and are unlikely to see the light of day again, for which many are grateful. She has one husband, two graduate degrees and two black belts, three sons, four undergraduate majors, five nieces, six cats, seven Regency-era fiction projects and notes for eight more writing projects in progress. To round out the list, she cooks for nine in order to accommodate the growing boys and usually makes ten meals at a time so she only cooks twice a month. She can be contacted at: email: author.MariaGrace@gmail.com. Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorMariaGrace On Amazon.com: amazon.com/author/mariagrace Visit her website Random Bits of Fascination (RandomBitsofFascination.com) On Twitter @WriteMariaGrace On Goodreads :http://www.goodreads.com/MariaGrace On Pinterest : http://pinterest.com/mariagrace423/ English Historical Fiction Authors (EnglishHistoryAuthors.blogspot.com) Austen Authors (AustenAuthors.net)

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This is the 4th book in Maria Grace's series, Give Good Principles. Poor Kitty. Longbourn is a prison for her. Lydia, after all the trouble of stopping her elopement the first time, she ups and does it again, only this time nobody was there to stop her. Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary are all in Derbyshire since their weddings. Kitty is invited to go to London to stay with Georgiana and her companion, Mrs. Hartwell. Mrs. Hartwell was hired, because Georgiana didn't seem to carry over any of Lady Matlock's instructions the months she was with her. When Kitty gets to London and meets Georgiana so of her actions are similar to Lydia's. Up in her room at Darcy House, Kitty is given a new dress from her three Derbyshire sisters. Darcy has also given her money to buy a matching hat. She is thrilled beyond words and reflects on how envious Lydia would be. Georgiana decides that she should be Catherine insisted of Kitty. She is reprimanded for her attitude by MRs. Hartwell since a name is personal. The next day the three ladies go shopping for Kitty's hat. Working with the proprietor, she and Kitty work up a new hat. When won't tell Georgiana what it looks like, Georgiana gets a little snippy. Mrs. Hartwell counsels her again. Mr. Bingley come into the chocolate store when they ordering hot chocolate with foams on top. Bingley is happy to see everyone, especially Kitty. Georgiana tries to monopolize the conversation to draw Mr. Bingley to herself. Several times Georgiana is reminded that she is not out was yet, but she continues to act like an uncontrollable child instead of a sensible young lady. Mrs. Hartwell speaks to Kitty while they eat dinner in the former's sitting room. The Darcys believe that Kitty can help take Georgiana's foolish behavior before she brings embarrassment to the family. It is Christmas Eve, and Kitty is remembering the times she and her sisters would decorate with holly and fir swags along the banister. When she arrives downstairs, a surprise box from Lizzy is waiting. Georgiana gets very excited, especially when Kitty decides to make a kissing bou

Having read the other three volumes of this "Given Good Principles" series I must say that I was not as drawn into this story as I was into some of the others. The premise is good, the events logical but with more potential than I found addressed here. The book's beginning actually gave me a dislike of Kitty. She did not elicit my sympathy. Maybe her character just was not developed to show that she had earned such. Impressions of her following Lydia's behavior remain in my mind. Her having learned a lesson does not resonate as having truly occurred for me. There just seemed to be so much whining going on. Lydia's part in Catherine's feelings is not completely explained until later. And Mrs. Bennet seems more irrational and self-centered than in the original story. The actual Twelfth Night party was the best part of the book, giving Bingley some part to play in planning this surprise for Kitty. I would have liked to have read more sexual tension between this couple, especially with pictures in my mind of him and Jane from so many other stories. *Spoiler*: But at least, we do have our closure to marrying off all the Bennet girls.

Kitty is a bit of a whiner for me. She seems to be constantly whingeing about her fate after Lydia's infamous elopement. It has left her socially bereft. Her only friends seems to be the Lucas's and even here Maria pretends that she needs something urgently whenever she sees Kitty. Being offered a chance to go to Pemberley seems a god sent opportunity to just get away from the salacious gossip of the town and the nervous breakdown of her mother. Her father seems just indifferent. Only Lizzy could understand him and get him to smile.

Enroute to Pemberley with Miss Darcy and her new companion, Kitty encounters fresh problems. Miss Darcy is not compliant, polite in company and her companion rules that she is not fit to grace the august assemblies at Pemberley. Does this mean that Kitty goes back home? A fresh adventure awaits her with the Bingley's opportune arrival and Mr. Bingley offers to escort her along with his sister as chaperone back to Pemberley. The Bingleys have problems of their own with the behaviour of their sister Caroline so they have mutual stuff to grumble about!

Now it gets to the fairy tale part which was a bit too cloying for me. A pleasant read however. I like PP variations in whatever form. This was a good one and gave one of the hitherto ignored sisters a good airing. Why should Lizzy have all the fun?

Kitty, the much neglected Bennet daughter (neglected by both her parents and her original author, one might add) is fleshed out and made to be an interesting and appealing subject. She has matured a great deal since her Lydia's-follower days, she has (more than anyone) paid the consequences of Lydia's actions and has grown as a result.

The book incorporates unusual interpretations found in other Maria Grace books (i.e.Jane married to Col. Fitzwilliam) and a different interpretation of Georgiana's character (not sure if this, too, was in other books, but it is believable as written). In any case and in this context, it works.

The book feels short, maybe because it happens in such a short period of time and maybe because there is very little action just a lot of thought and internal conflict which, happily, is resolved with amazing ease and very little conflict. Towards the end, she is no longer consumed by self-reproach and knows herself to be worthy, loved and appreciated by her family and the man she has secretly loved. I won't tell you who he is.